GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR JEZZINE BARRACKS

The Government is honouring this commitment to the Townsville community by providing the funding to Defence in the context of the 2007-08 Budget for the redevelopment of Jezzine Barracks. 

On 1 August 2006, the Prime Minister announced that the majority of the Jezzine Barracks site would be gifted to Townsville City Council.

The Prime Minister further announced the Australian Government would provide $10 million if matched by Townsville City Council and a further $10 million if matched by the Queensland Government for heritage protection and community use.

The funds will be placed in a Jezzine Community Trust.

The two funding grants of $10 million by the Government are conditional on the Queensland Government and the Townsville City Council each providing $10 million.

The gifting of this valuable piece of land and the provision of funding to enable its development for community use and heritage protection offers the opportunity for all three Governments to work together to produce an outstanding result for Townsville.

Media contacts

www.defence.gov.au

Supporting Information

Why is this important?

•                The Prime Minister’s announcement provided an outcome for the future of Jezzine Barracks once it is vacated by Defence.  It protects the site’s significant heritage values and provides for on-going community use.

•                It satisfies the community desires, expressed in the extensive community consultation program implemented by Defence in 2005 for on-going protection and community access to the site.

Who will benefit?

•                The Townsville community will be the major beneficiaries of the decision.

What funding is the Government committing to the initiative?

•                The Government is committing up to $20 million plus on the condition that the Queensland State Government and the Townsville City Council each provide $10 million. 

•                A Community Trust, with representatives from government and the community, will be established by the Government to oversee the distribution of this funding.

•                Additionally, the Government will spend around another $4 million in remediation and subdivision activities on the site, prior to handover, and another $7.4 million relocating the 11^th Brigade to Lavarack Barracks.

When will the initiative conclude?

•                The Government plans to establish the Community Trust around September 2007, subject to negotiations with the Queensland Government and Townsville City Council

•                The land is expected to be transferred around March 2009 when all relocation and remediation works are complete.